The Latest: Flake thanks volunteers for vet's funeral honors

Nov. 11, 2017

PHOENIX (AP) — The Latest on efforts by family members to have a funeral with military honors in Mesa for a 97-year-old WWII veteran (all times local):

2:30 p.m.

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake is thanking a volunteer group for providing military honors at the funeral for a World War II veteran.

Flake had asked on social media Friday for volunteers to provide honors at the funeral for 97-year-old Glenn Richard Cook. Cook's family were unable to arrange for the traditional military honors at his funeral in Mesa Saturday because they lacked the paperwork to prove his service.

Flake took to Twitter Saturday afternoon to thank the Arizona Patriot Guard Riders for volunteering on short notice to provide the honors.

The Department of Defense is required by law to provide the ceremony to every eligible veteran upon the family's request. The law requires proof of honorable discharge.

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11:40 a.m.

Family members of a World War II veteran were attempting to give him military honors at his funeral on Veterans Day but were stymied by red tape over the necessary paperwork needed by the government to perform the ceremony.

The Arizona Republic reports 97-year-old Glenn Richard Cook died last week, and the family did not know until the funeral home told them that certain paperwork was required for the honors.

The Department of Defense is required by law to provide the ceremony to every eligible veteran upon the family's request. The law requires proof of honorable discharge, which the family was not able to locate.

A spokesman for Luke Air Force Base says the base likely could not coordinate services on such short notice even if the paperwork was found.